Centrifugal separator.



Patented Nov. 3

W. MAUSS.

OENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.Z5, 1913,

I //vz/E/v7'oR. 5 Y MGM/ ab ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILHELM MAUSS, OF JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA CENTRIFUGAL SEPARA'LOR.

Specification of letters Patent. Application filed March 25, 1913. Serial No. 756,727.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

To all whom it'mag concern:

Be it known that- I, WILHELM :MAUSS, a

British subject, residing at Commercial gal separators for treating ores and the like,

of the kind in which the material to be treated is fed into a drum which is rotated about an axis distant from its own axis in order to effect the separation of the constituents of the material and is also rotated at a relatively slow rate about its own axis.-

The effect of the latter rotation is so. to change the position of the surface upon which the separated material of higher specific gravity is deposited as to diminish or reverse the eflect'of the centrifu a1 force in holdin the deposited materia on the surface 0 the drum and thus enable such aterial to be readily separated therefrom. The apparatus usuall consists of vessels symmetrically dispose about the main axis of rotation.

-The purpose of the resent invention is to improve the remova from the drum of the material deposited on the wall thereof. In the accompanying drawing is shown apparatus embodying the present improvements, Figure I being a general elevation, partly in section, and Fig. II a section on the plane A-B, Fig. I.

1 is a main shaft rotated about its axis 2 by suitable driving means 3, 4 and having rigidly secured to it a cradle 5. Said cradle carries two oppositely disposed drums 6 having their axes 7 spaced from axis 2 so that upon rotation of shaft 1 they are whirled bodily around the same. The drums shown are conical below and are provided with an overflow lip a at the top, while their axes 7 are so inclined upwardly and outwardly that the portion 10 of the wall remote from axis 2 forms with the overflow pinion 15 with the racks 16. Each drum is served by a feed pipe 18 extending from a common trough 19 mounted upon and rotating with shaft 1. h

In the operation of such apparatus, upon the mixed material-which may be, supposed to be ore pulp and cyanid solutionbeing fed in through pipes 18, it forms a wall 20, 21 in the separating chambers 11. The liquid segregates as an inner layer 20 andflows away over lip 9 into receiver 22, while the ore 21 deposits upon the wall of the drum and tends to adhere firmly thereto. The deposited pulp is carried around with the drum as the latter rotates on its axis 7 (in-the direction of the arrow, Fig.- 11),-

gresslvely reversing the relative positions ,of said pulp and said. surface in regard to the main axis of rotation 2. The effect of the centrifugal force in holding the pulp to the surface of the drum is thus gradually diminished and even reversed after the surface passes the position in which it is radial to axis 2.

In former apparatus of this kind the reversal of the effect of the centrifugal force has been utilized to throw the deposited material from off the surface of the drum preparator to its discharge from the apparatus. t is, however, considered that dependence upon such centrifugal detachment is undesirable. Materials which pack closely require very considerable force to detach them and accordingly tend'to break at 17 to permit the engagement of said off irregularly and to fly back into the sep-."

or as possible, and it is sought onl to I bring the deposited ore into a substantially neutral zone in reference to the centrifugal force, so that its removal is rendered easy, and then to detach it mechanically. To this end, the inner wall of the drum is brou ht 3 as closel as possible to the axis 2 an a plow 23 is provided to remove or insure. the

removal of the material. The plow is fixed,

relatively to axis 2 and is of suitable form according to the material to be dealt with. Thus, it may be a simple blade, as shown, or in the case of very hard or tough material,

a series of disk plows may be preferable. Material detached by. the plow falls into thebin 24. By thus retaining 'the settled material on the drums until it reaches fixed points and then completely removin it therefrom at such points, the balance the.

, apparatus is much improved.

25 is an annular launder which is disposed below the path of the outer walls of thedrums. In the event of the apparatus stopping or slowing down to substantially below its. normal speed, the unseparated material falls out into said launder 25. and

arated material to the separator maybe controlled by means which automatically cuts off the su ply when the s eed of the se arator fa s-below a fixed A simp e form of suchmeansconsists of a governor 29 on the main shaft 1 which is arranged to trip a'trigger 30 and allow the gate 31 to fall,'so closin the outlet from the source 28.

What I 01mm and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I Centrifugal separating apparatus comprising a drum rotatable about its own axis and also "about an external axis, said drum being very close to said external axis, and a plow fixed relatively to and near to the main axis for positively detaching deposited material from the surface of the drum.

In testimony whereof I afiix my' signature in presence of two-witnesses;

WILHELM MAUSS. I Witnesses: I WESLEY E..JOHN,' I J. W. Vimxma- 

